Hoisting, Rigging, Sling Inspection, and Load Control

Hoisting, Rigging, Sling Inspection, and Load Control

Rigging is the connection between lifting equipment and the load, and small errors can create major failures. A sling with hidden damage, an overloaded shackle, a poor choke, an unknown load weight, or an ignored sling angle can turn a routine pick into a dropped object or swinging load event. The CHST does not need to be the qualified rigger for every lift, but must know enough to identify when the lift plan, gear condition, or work area control is not acceptable.

Start With the Load

Before choosing rigging, determine the load weight, shape, center of gravity, lift points, sharp edges, stability, and landing method. Drawings, shipping papers, manufacturer markings, scale tickets, or engineered data may be needed. Guessing is not a plan. The center of gravity matters because a load lifted above or away from its balance point can tilt, roll, or shift suddenly.

The load path should be clear from pickup to landing. The crew should know where the load will travel, where workers may stand, where tag lines may be used, and where the load will be landed. The landing area must be strong enough, level enough, and prepared with cribbing or dunnage when needed. Workers should keep hands out from under the load and avoid placing themselves between the load and a fixed object.

Sling and Hardware Inspection

Each sling type has rejection criteria. Synthetic web slings can be damaged by cuts, burns, broken stitching, chemical exposure, missing tags, or excessive wear. Wire rope slings can fail from broken wires, kinking, birdcaging, crushing, corrosion, heat damage, or damaged end fittings. Chain slings require attention to stretched links, gouges, cracks, distortion, heat damage, and missing identification. Below-the-hook hardware such as shackles, hooks, eyebolts, spreader bars, and lifting clamps must be rated and in serviceable condition.

Damaged rigging should be tagged and removed so it cannot be reused. Leaving bad gear in the gang box invites later use by someone under schedule pressure.

Sling Angle and Load Control

Sling angle changes the force in each leg. As the horizontal angle decreases, sling tension increases. This is a common exam and field issue because workers may see a load that weighs less than the sling rating, but the sling angle can overload the sling or hardware. Use spreader bars, longer slings, or different lift points when needed to maintain acceptable angles and protect the load.

Sharp edges require padding or engineered protection. Choked lifts require the hitch to seat properly, and basket hitches need the load captured so it cannot slide out. Multiple-leg bridle lifts require attention to equal loading. If one leg is shorter or the load is rigid, some legs may carry more load than expected.

Control load movement. Keep the load low when practical during initial test lift, pause to verify balance, and avoid sudden starts and stops. Tag lines may control rotation, but workers using them must stand clear of the fall zone and should not wrap the line around a hand, body, or fixed object. If a tag line creates a trip, fall, or entanglement hazard, use another control.

Communication During Hoisting

Only designated signal persons should direct the hoist movement unless someone gives an emergency stop. The rigger, operator, and signal person should agree on hand signals, radio language, lift sequence, and stop command. The operator should not move a load on unclear, conflicting, or casual signals.

Exam Focus

For CHST decisions, choose the answer that verifies capacity, condition, configuration, and control. Do not accept damaged rigging, unknown load weight, workers under the load, or informal signaling. The correct field action is often to pause the lift, get qualified rigging input, replace defective gear, or revise the rigging method.